Warrants reissued for arrest of K’gla Mayor and 4 others

• Magistrate gives Order preventing Mayor, other suspects from leaving country
• Fresh warrants issued after Police fail to execute warrant issued last Friday

Kurunegala Magistrate A. D. C. S. Hewawasam yesterday reissued warrants for the arrest of five persons including the Mayor of the Kurunegala Municipal Council (KMC) and made an Order preventing them from leaving the country in connection with the Buwaneka Hotel Case.

The warrants were reissued through the Acting IGP, DIG and SP Kurunegala after Police failed to execute the warrant issued last Friday against the suspects.

The other suspects in the case are the KMC Municipal Commissioner, Municipal Engineer, Acting Management Administrator and driver of the backhoe vehicle used to demolish the building.

The Acting IGP was directed by Attorney General Dappula de Livera to frame charges against them for violating the Archaeology Act as well as under the Penal Code for causing destruction to a public property.

The AG’s Department official said that the total loss to the State caused by the demolition of the building (estimated loss Rs. 7.2 million) as well as the cost for its reconstruction (estimated cost Rs. 13.7 million) would add up to around Rs. 20 million.

The official said that the Mayor and the other KMC officials were aware that the building in question was an ancient Royal Court and the Mayor himself, in 2018, had presented a proposal to the Council to have it preserved. The Mayor’s proposal was approved by the Council

However, on 24 July the entire building had been demolished without any authorisation from the Archaeology Department of the Road Development Authority (RDA).